Metal container



Jan. 4, 1944.

i A. CALLESON -ETAL METAL CONTAINER Filed March '7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 4, 1944. A, CALLESQN ETAL 2,338,094 l METAL coNTAINE l Filed March 7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 was bZZezsaza Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT `'OFFICE METAL CONTAINER Amos Calleson yand Edgar A. Calleson, Merrick,- N. Y., assignors to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application March 7, 1940, Serial No. 322,809

' 3 Claims.' (Cl. 220-27) This invention relates to metal containers such as are employed for beverages, medicines, chemicals, foodstuffs and other similar types of commodities. f

-The primary object ofthe invention is to provide a strong, thoroughly leakproof container, which will be available to those packers who do not require or do not Wish to employ a closure cap as the sealing means.

An important object of the invention is to provide Aa container of this character which must be severed in such a manner to permit access to the contents that the container cannot be again conveniently or economically used for commercial packaging.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which may be opened by conventional means such as the usual can opener, and then resealed satisfactorily for domestic purposes until all of the contents have been used.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a. nice appearing container which may be employed where the usual tin can might beobjectionable. In this connection,l the container of the present invention may be attractively deco- Figure s is a secuemu view of another modincation of the construction shown in Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a plan view looking into the closed upper end or neck of the container, and

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Containers in accordance with the present invention are preferably constructed of relatively thin sheet metal such as tin plate or steel. In the form shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 5 to 8, the body I0 and the frusto-conlcal top II including the cylindrical neck I2 and the completely closed end I3 in which the neck terminates are integral the inwardly concave bottom I4 is seamed to the body by an interlocked or folded seam. That is rated, and not only provides a very acceptable not limited in its application to the details of construction or the arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in -various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseolog'y or terminology is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the priorart. ,j

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of one form of the invention,

Figure 2 is a. sectional View of an additional form of the invention,

Figure 3 is a sectional View of another form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of afurther form of the invention,

Figure 5 is a sectional view of still another form of the invention,

Figure 6 is a sectional view showinga modification of the construction shown in' Figure 1,

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view of the mod-iiication shown in Figure 6,

to say, the body I0, top II, neck I2 including the integral closed end I3 thereof are seamless and The container shown in Figure 4 has the body I0 and the bottomdevoid of side or top seams.

constructions shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 to 8,

the seamless top I I of Figure 4 may be seamed to the seamless body I0 if desired. Also, the integral bottom I4 of the construction shown in Figure 4 may be employed with the containers shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 to 8; or the bottom shown by a vsuitable instrument such as the usual can opener.

Referring to Figure 1, the neck I2 at its upper end is curved outwardly-suiiiciently as shown at I6 to form a bead, and isthen curved inwardly as shown at I1 and drawn downwardly as shown at I8 to form a cup-shaped member defining a.

recess I9. The wall I8 may be slightly tapered inwardly and downwardly, and being spaced from the wall of the neck provides a resilient seat for a stopper or cork 20. This wall I8 at its lower end has an outwardly curved portion or projection 2| resting against the inner Wall of the neck as shown at 22 whereby the resiliency of the wall Il is made available-to form a tight seal, and, moreover, the :dat integral closed end I3 in which the bead 2I terminates is rigidly supported for receiving a puncturing tool such as a can opener. Furthermore, the wall of the recess I8 including the curved lip or bead portions IB-II' forms a smooth, continuous pouring opening. In this container, the recess I8 is produced by pressing inwardly upon the closed end of the neck I 2, whereby to form the recess I9 having the side and end walls thereof integral with, i. e., in continuation of the wall of the nec'k I2. The bead IB-I'I is of the form to receive a crown cap or other skirt form of closure, for example, as illustrated by the cap 23in Figure 2 if itis not desired to use a resilient cork or stopper 20.

In the use of the container, the contents are filled into the container through the. bottom which is then seamed as shown, and thereafter the package is complete. The consumer uses an ordinary can opener 24 to open the end I3 for dispensing the contents. In many cases, all of the contents are not used at once, and thus the stopper 28 or other closure may be employed to effect a temporary reseal. The integral end I3, however, having been severed, the container is no longer economically useful for commercially packaging, although it may be used for domestic purposes until the contents are exhausted.

The package may be furnished with a cork or stopper 20 or a closure 23 positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2 which the consumer may remove for the purpose of punoturing the end I3 and then replace to form the reseal. As pointed out above, any suitable type of resealing closure may be employed in lieu of a stopper, e. g., caps of paper, metal or rubber preferably having a. skirt and which are readily conformable to the open end of the neck to seal the same.

In Figure 2, the neck I2 is also reversely bent or drawn to produce a cup-shaped member defining a recess at its upper end and to form a cap receiving bead or finish, particularly adapted to `receive a crown cap or other skirted closure, al-

though a suitable cork or stopper may be employed. To form such a finish, the metal of the upper end of the neck is curved outwardly as shown at 25, and then inwardly as shown at 28, and then is bent outwardly and downwardly as shown at 21 to engage the inner wall of the neck I2 substantially at the point where the portion 25 begins to extend outwardly, as shown at 28. In this manner, a cup-shaped recess 29 is produced, the bottom wall of which is formed by the closed end I3 which is integral and continuous with the neck I2 and the portions 25, 26 and 21 as in the construction shown in Figure 1. By reason of this construction, the bead or finish readily receives the crown cap 23, the outwardly extending portion 25 forming a locking shoulder for the crimps present in the skirt of the cap which are inbent into gripping relation with the shoulder. The bead construction shown in Figure 2 is produced by pressing inwardly upon the closed end I3 whereby the hollow cap receiving bead is formed. This container is filled in the same manner as the container described in connection with Figure 1 and has the same structural advantages. That is, once the end I3 is punctured, the container cannot be practically used for commercial packaging, although it may be satisfactorily used for domestic resealing. Also, the inner wall of the bead forms a continuous pouring outlet and the closed end I3 is rigidly supported to receive the puncturing tool. As

explained above. any suitable closure may be employed if a crown cap is not preferred.

vIn the construction shown in Figure 3, the neck I2 is curled outwardly to form a cap receiving finish or bead III, and the end I3 is not'depressed as shown in Figures 1 and 2, but remains in the plane of the upper end or the bead, as shown. This container is used in the same'manner as the containers previously described and has substantially all of the advantages thereof.

It is to be noted that the bead, in addition to providing a means for retaining a closure, also strengthens and supports the closed end I3 to receive the opener.

The container shown in Figure 4 is filled before the top II is applied, whereupon the top is seamed in position providing a completely sealed container as with the other forms of the invention. In opening the container, the opener 2| severs the closed end I3 which, as shown. is integral with the neck I2, and the latter is integral with the top I I. This container provides a strong article capable of resisting the high pressures developed` in beverages such as beer. Moreover, once the container is opened, it is no longer useful for commercial packaging. Also, in this construction, with certain types of contents, it may be desired to resort to domestic resealing, in which event a suitable closure may bev applied over the neck I2 in the marmer above described.

In the construction shown in Figure 5, the container may be filled through the bottom and the latter then applied, or the bottom may be applied and the container filled through an opening 3l which may be subsequently sealed by soldering thereover-a disc 32. The provision of the opening 3| and disc 32 in some cases is not preferred. As with the other containers, when the,

end I3 is severed, the container is no longer useful for commercial packaging, since the body, top, neck and closed end. are seamless and integral. out the container may be employed for domestic resealing purposes by placing a suitable closure about the integral neck I2.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, it is to be noted that the integral inwardly directed wall I8 of the cupshaped member defining the recess I3 is substantially coextensive with and in contact with the wall of the neck I2 substantially throughout its length. The integral connection between the wall I8 and the neck I2 is formed into a hollow bead 33 which, upon removal of thestopper 20, will form a suitable finish for a. crimped cap 23 or other skirted cap if a cork is not desired.

In Figure 8, the end of the neck I2 is severed, and a. cup-shaped member 34 denning the recess I8 is positioned in the neck and has its free edge 3,5 and the adjacent free edge 38 of the neck interlocked by a folding seam 31,. It will be noted that the wall of the cup is substantially coextensive and in contact with the wall of the neck I2, as shown in Figures 6 and '1. Also, the seam or joint 3l, which extends beyond the confines of the wall of the neck, provides a bead about which may be positioned a. suitable skirted closure if it is desired to reseal the container in this manner.

The constructions as shown in Figures 6, 'l and 8 are sometimes preferred for manufacturing reasons and depending upon the product which is to be packaged.

Referring to Figure 9, we have indicated the l end I3 in each of the constructions shown in scoring is of any suitable form and assists in opening the container and forming a. regular aperture. 'I'he scoring does not interfere with the seal of the container.

Referring to Figure 10, the construction is similar to that shown in Figure 1 except that the skirt I2 is provided with a circumferential indentation 40 to produce the bead or lip All for receiving a closure, such as one of the crimped type 23. Also, the wall I8 is straight and does not engage the neck. The cork 20 or cap '23 may be applied and used as described herein.

Each of the containers shown herein, provides a strong package, and, in addition, a nice appearing package' as distinguished from conventional tin cans and bottles. Moreover, the container of. this invention may be suitably decorated and used upon the dining table where in some cases, bottles or tin cans would not lbe entirely harmonious.

The container body I with integral neck and top is formed by successively drawing a cupshaped blank to the contour illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 to 8 so as to produce a seamless container except for the bottom which is seamed or otherwise united to the body. The container shown in Figure 4 wherein Athe bottom Itis integral with the body I0 is also formed by drawing a cup-shaped blank and the independent top lIl with neck I2 is similarly drawn.

In drawing, the neck is least subjected to the4 drawing operation and consequently the metal thereof may be bent and formed as by drawing to provide a structure embodying the neck and bead such as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 'l without danger of cracking the metal. or otherwise weakening the neck or bead. This is important in that it permits the application of crimped caps by automatic machinery, as well as the prying on of such caps without danger of distortion. Moreover, the neck is rlgidied,

ferential, external closure receiving bead, the

metal from said bead being continued downwardly to form an integral substantially cupshaped internal closure receiving portion having a smooth pouring opening adjacent said bead, said cup-shaped portion having an integral continuous closedv end positioned Within the neck and adapted to be opened by a puncturing tool to permit removing of the contents, the outer surface of the side wall of the cup-shaped portion being in circumferential contact with the adjacent inner surface of the wall of the neck, whereby the closed end of the cup-shaped portion is rigidly supported for receiving the puncturing tool.

2. A metal container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the side wall of the cup-shaped portion is in circumferential contact at the lower end of the cup-shaped portion with the adjacent inner surface of the wall of the neck.

3. A metal container in accordance with claim 1 in which thev outer surface of the side wall of the cup-shaped portion is in circumferential contact with the adjacent inner surface of the wall of the neck substantially throughout the length of the cup-shaped portion below the bead.

AMOS CAILESON. EDGAR A. CALLESON. 

